Mercy View Meadow

Monday, September 8, 2014

Yesterday while working in the garden pulling weeds. The sun was bright, but it was getting late and the sun was lower in the west, and there was not much shade protection. I kept shifting my hat visor to try to keep from being blinded by the sun, and realized I needed a wide brimmed hat. Aha! I thought. I have an old wide brimmed straw hat (that I almost threw away at one point because it wasn’t very useful) that might work, so I went and found that. It might have served the purpose, except thanks to the loose weave, the sun was still able to get through and make it hard to see. Aha! I thought. I need to add some dark cloth that would keep out the sun. (I have a white hat with quite a wide visor, but being white and not very opaque it had a bit of the same problem in bright sun.) I was about done for the day, it would soon be dark, so I went looking for a solution to my hat problem – heading for the rag drawer, which is full of assorted old clothes, etc. I found a very old, faded, well-worn brown work T-shirt that my husband had worn out. It had already been cut across the bottom for some reason. It looked like as if I cut off about 4 more inches it just might work for my purpose. I made the cut and ran big stitches along one edge on the sewing machine, pulled the thread to gather that edge, and tried it on the hat, pinning it to the edge of the hat brim. It worked! It was just the right size! (Well, close enough.) But it was definitely ugly and needed a finishing touch. I have an assortment of colorful decorative ribbons from my mother’s sewing things, including a bit of 1/2 inch ribbon with brown highlights that just happened to be sitting in a little basket on the shelve above the sewing machine - perfect! I stitched that on by hand, fastening down the old T-shirt in the process, and the result looks really promising – from three things that others might have thrown in the trash, or maybe to Goodwill!
So – my new garden hat for a really sunny day of working in the sun.

In the process of looking for the hat I did find 3 back packs that I don't need, and put them in the car to take to Goodwill.

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

With the ebola virus scaring the wits out of everyone, and even
doctors and nurses dying from the infection, it’s time to remind folks that
there is a very likely effective cure which is still being ignored by
mainstream medicine. Dr. Thomas Levy, MD, JD, in Curing the Incurable1
(page 109ff) addresses the issue of Ebola infections. This extensive quote from
Dr. Levy’s books should convince you there is a better way!

Ebola Virus - (Curable-?, Reversible-?, Preventable-?)

Ebola is probably the best know of
a class of viruses known as hemorrhagic fever viruses. [There are many others.
Levy lists 13.]…

These viral hemorrhagic fever syndromes
share certain clinical features. The Cecil
Textbook of Medicine notes that these diseases are characterized by
capillary fragility, which translates to easy bleeding, that can frequently
lead to severe shock and death. These diseases also tend to consume and/or
destroy theplatelets, which plan an
integral role in blood clotting.The clinical
presentation of the viral disease is similar to scurvy, which is also
characterized by capillary fragility and a tendency to bleed easily.
Characteristic skin lesions develop, which are actually multiple tiny areas of
bleeding into the skin that surround the hair follicles…

In the classic form of scurvy that
evolves very slowly from the gradual depletion of vitamin C body stores,the immune system will be sufficiently
compromised for infection to claim the patient’s life before the extensive
hemorrhage that occurs after all vitamin C stores have been completely
exhausted. Ebola virus and the other viral hemorrhagic fevers are much more
likely to cause hemorrhaging before any other fatal infection has a chance to
become established. This is because the virus so rapidly and totally
metabolizes and consumes all available vitamin C in the bodies of the victims
that an advanced stage of scurvy is literally produced after only a few days of
the disease…

To date, no vital infection has
been demonstrated to be resistance to the proper dosing of vitamin C as
classically demonstrated by Klenner2. However, not all viruses have
been treated with Klenner-sized vitamin C doses, or at least the results have
not been published. Ebola virus infection and the other acute vital hemorrhagic
fevers appear to be diseases that fall into this category. Because of the
seemingly exceptional ability of these viruses to rapidly deplete vitamin C
stores, even larger doses of vitamin C would likely be required in order to
effectively reverse and eventually cure infections caused by these viruses…

[I]t seems clear as evidenced by
the scurvy-like clinical manifestations of these infections that vitamin C
dosing must be vigorous and given in extremely high doses. [Perhaps up to 5000
– 10,000 mg every 1-2 hours throughout the day and night.]... Death occurs too
quickly with the hemorrhagic fevers to be conservative when doing the vitamin
C.

Belfield and Stone (1975) reported
enormous success in the treatment of a variety of viral infections in animals:

The intravenous use of
ascorbate [vitamin C] is especially valuable in the therapy of the viral
diseases as it appears to be an effective, non-specific, non-toxic virucidal
agent. We have not seen any viral disease that did not respond to this
treatment. Successful therapy appears to depend on using it in sufficiently
large doses.

[This] certainly seems to agree
with the phenomenal success that Klenner reported in his treatment of viral
infections with vitamin C in humans. It also implies that Ebola viral infection
and the other acute viral hemorrhagic fevers should respond to large enough
doses of intravenous vitamin C. (end quote)

Why are doctors so reluctant to use this effective therapy?
In another book by Dr. Levy, Primal Panacea3, chapter
7 deals with this issue. Titled “High-Dose Vitamin C: Spin Doctors Lie, 7
medical lies that kill!” Levy states:

"[W]ithout a doubt vitaminC lies – like urban legends – are sincerely believed by most of
those who pass them along. But, unlike relatively harmless urban legends,
vitamin C lies are responsible for much sickness and death because doctors
continue to refuse to administer vitamin C correctly, or at all. As a result,
patients are far too often denied optimal health and even life because their
physician believes one or more of the following vitamin C lies." (page 95)

Dr. Levy then lists 7 lies
and rebuts them thoroughly, concluding with this section (page 107):

What About Negative Studies?

With over 50,000 published studies
and counting, it's no surprise that a some reach conc1usions other than what
has been presented thus far [in Primal Panacea].

However, the vast majority of
“negative'' studies are only negative in the sense that vitamin C was determined
to be ineffective. Often conclusions are so broad they leave out important
facts. Instead of conveying a dose-specific truth such as, ''A daily vitamin C
dose of 50 mg was found to be ineffective in the treatment of lung cancer,''
the researchers and media will convey what is effectively a lie by saying,
"Vitamin C is ineffective in the treatment of lung cancer."

Since successful treatment is
always dose-dependent, this omission of dose in the conclusion is misleading at
best, and basically dishonest.

He then concludes:

"From my own experience, exhaustive research in the
medical literature, and through consultation with doctors in this country and
throughout the world, I am absolutely convinced of one thing - when enough
vitaminC is given, in the right form,
and for a long enough time, vitamin C helps virtually every condition, resolves
many of them, and prevents still others. Although I have not personally
analyzed every negative study the ones that I have reviewed use very inadequate
quantities of vitamin C, or they are clearly flawed in some other way.
Furthermore, I have never found a single article showing properly dosed and
administered vitamin C to fail to improve the status of a toxic or infected
patient."

In Chapter 8, “High-Dose Vitamin
C: Revolution Required, Are profits more important than people?,” Dr. Levy
discusses the massive conflict of interest between the drug industry and the
FDA that has led to the situation where an effective therapy is aggressively
suppressed and the reputation of doctors using the therapy is attacked.
In spite of the pressures, there are many physicians using these therapies, and
you would do well to find a physician knowledgeable about and willing to
appropriately use high-dose vitamin C when needed. For guidance on dealing at home with lesser infections I’d suggest
Ascorbate, The Science of Vitamin C4, which, among other
things, recommends frequent large doses throughout the day when fighting an
infection or dealing with some toxin. He also explains the use of bowel tolerance as a guide to dosage.

For those health
professionals who might happen to read this I’d recommend studying Primal
Panacea3, which has the technical information needed for
dealing with an extensive list of conditions, though the much thicker, Curing
the Incurable1, is fascinating reading, with over 1,200
scientific references. Get with the program, and discovered a more satisfying
and successful practice, though you may have to do battle with the powers that
be.

2. In Curing the Incurable,
chapter 2, Curing, Reversing, and Preventing Infectious Diseases, Dr. Levy reviews
the extensive, ground-breaking research of Dr. Frederick Klenner, M.D. (and
many other doctors), in the use of high-dose IV vitamin C.

3. Primal Panacea, by Thomas E. Levy, MD, JD, MedFox Publishing, 2011

4. Ascorbate: The science of vitamin C. by Hickey S and Roberts
H.2004

Sunday, January 19, 2014

It’s all over the news papers – People are dying of flu – get your flu shot! Is this really the answer to flu? There is a much better way – giving your body the nutrients it need to fight off infections such as the flu. To tell the truth, when your body is fighting an infection of any kind it revs up it’s use of many nutrients, especially vitamin C. Most animals can make their own vitamin C, so they have a ready supply to fight off most things. Humans can’t, so we must consume vitamin C in our food. Our body’s use of vitamin C increases greatly when we’re fighting infections – 5,000 mg and more daily. Such large amounts are impossible to get from food, so high quality supplements are in order. There are links on my website to more information about vitamin C and sources, including Curing the Incurable: Vitamin C, Infectious Diseases, & Toxins by Thomas E. Levy, M.D., J.D., the book that alerted me to this powerful therapy.

In spite of the efficacy of high dose vitamin C, conventional medicine has been very resistant to accepting this therapy, mainly because no drug company is willing to fund proper research. (It would cut greatly into their profits to find a low cost effective substitute for their drugs!) There is a link on my website to a powerful little video, called Living Proof, about the battle a family had with the doctors and hospital to use vitamin C on the patient who was on death’s door, but was finally completely healed with vitamin C.

So there is really no need to fear the flu or any serious illness. The secret is frequent large doses of vitamin C throughout the day to bowel tolerance, to maintain high levels in the blood while fighting an infection. And don’t wait until you are seriously ill – the sooner you start, the better. To learn more, check some of the links on my website or find ‘Vitamin C’ on my site map. One day your life may depend on this knowledge.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

In the headlines this month:"Some Fruits Are Better Than Others"http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/04/some-fruits-are-better-than-others/
Our local Toledo Blade picked up on the story today and here's Dr. Mercola's take on this research.
The "reader pick" comments on the NYTimes article are interesting, but they all miss a vital point - the quality of the fruit makes a big difference. Quality is something that is seldom mentioned in an intelligent way - that is, more than just 'it looks good and is nice and big.' Some folks lift the fruit to get a feel for the 'heft', feeling that density reflects better fruit. And of course the taste is important to quality, but far too much fruit is poor in that respect. Those big huge strawberries they may have tested were probably nearly tasteless.

Some folks have been digging into the genuine source of quality, and have found that mineral content is an important factor. Jamil, in his blog, High Nutrition Blueberries Nutrition Analysis: Why Are They Better Than Wild/Organic?, has been looking at this aspect and has an a chart showing the mineral content of various blueberries, including some by a farmer who has been working to remineralize his soil, so as to get top quality and high nutrition. The chart above from this blog shows higher levels of most minerals and a couple key vitamins in the high nutrition blueberry.

Why is this so important? The research highlighted in the NYTimes article says eating apples, grapes, grapefruit, and especially blueberries was associated with decreased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. One comment claims that to avoid diabetes cut down on carbs. Another says cut out processed foods. Another comment says 'no, it's a matter of insulin resistance,' but he's not sure what causes that. Well, minerals have a lot to do with that! People eat large quantities of refined carbs (you know, white bread, pasta, white sugar), which have had the minerals stripped out of them. Processed foods contain refined carbs and modern vegetable oils, which add another piece to the puzzle, as these modern oils are highly subject to oxidation. Oxidized oils create all kinds of problems in the body, including contributing to insulin resistance. In addition, Dr. Mercola highlights the problems with too much fructose in fruit.

But, in truth, those missing minerals are key to proper body function. We took them out because white flour is nicer, and so much easier to work with, figuring we'd just get the vitamin and minerals from elsewhere or by 'fortifying' the flour. But now we see that "elsewhere" is also low in vitamins and minerals. (see Food Quality Issues) As a result, between refined foods and low quality unrefined foods, mineral deficiencies are common in American today. Diabetes is just the tip of the iceberg. Heart disease, cancer, and a host of chronic disease conditions are caused by or made worse by mineral deficiencies. Eating blueberries instead of strawberries is only going to get us so far.

So where do we go from here? Start thinking about quality. Pay attention to taste - high quality tastes better. Pay attention to keeping quality - high quality keeps better. Get yourself a refractometer and do some actual testing. Buy from a farmer that has better quality produce - and let him know you appreciate his efforts. Grow some of your own food and learn how to garden for Maximum Nutrition.

It's not simple like taking a vitamin/mineral tablet, but likely to be much more effective!

Monday, February 4, 2013

With all the hullabaloo about a flu epidemic and "get your flu shot" (of questionable value), why is there so little emphasis on how to boost the immune system so you don't get sick in the first place, and why are some simple proven means to beat the flu never mentioned, except to scoff at them? Part of the reason is that there is no one simple answer and research rarely uses an effective multi-faceted approach. So what is involved? What should you do to avoid and deal with colds and flu?1. Limit refined sugars. Refined sugars tend to depress the immune system. That includes high fructose corn syrup that is in so many processed foods They also deplete nutrients as the body has to pull nutrients from elsewhere to process the sugars and other refined foods in the typical American diet, such as white flour. Eat whole unprocessed foods.2. Avoid modern vegetable oils. They tend to be pro-inflammatory, contributing to disease, and are usually damaged in processing so they contribute to body dysfunction. Use plenty of good fats, like good butter (vitamin A), grass-fed lard (vitamin D), coconut oil (antibacterials), real olive oil.3. Have chicken soup. Grandma was right about chicken soup. Get a good Amish chicken, put it in your crock pot, cover with clean water, some chopped onion, a bit of vinegar to acidify and pull out the minerals, set it on low to simmer for several hours. Pull off the meat when it is very tender and continue simmering the bones to make wonderful healing bone broth. Add vegetables, herbs, pepper and unrefined sea salt along with the reserved meat to make a nourishing and flavorful soup. No, salt does not cause high blood pressure - it's the missing minerals in our refined diet that is a major cause.4. Drink plenty of fluids - purified and remineralized water, green tea, more broth.5. Nourish healthy gut flora - have fermented foods, such as raw sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, or maybe a good probiotic supplement. By eating whole plant foods you nourish the healthy gut flora.6. Vitamin A plays a vital regulating role in the immune system, needed to fight off flu and other infections. Vitamin A is key for many other body functions, so it's important to include vitamin A rich foods daily. Best sources of vitamin A - liver, high vitamin cod liver oil, butter & cream, eggs. Plants do not contain vitamin A, but the precursor, carotenes, which the body must convert to A, and not everyone converts it well.7. Vitamin D is also important for a healthy immune system that fights of colds and flu. Get plenty of sunshine in the summertime. High vitamin cod liver oil is the best source the rest of the year.8. Get plenty of rest & relaxation. Lack of sleep & stress increase vulnerability to infection. Be sure to get adequate sleep, and deal appropriately with stress. If you feel lousy, have some chicken soup and go to bed. Over-the-counter drugs may be counterproductive. A moderate fever indicates your body is fighting the bug.9. Zinc decreases adhesion molecules where viruses attach. At the first sign of the sniffles or achiness, take extra zinc, preferably as gluconate or acetate (but without citrate which binds up the zinc). Zinc is an antioxidant, works as an anti-inflammatory agent, and has a direct effect on immunity. Zinc is found in many whole foods, especially oysters, organ meats and nuts. But zinc levels in foods are down because of soil depletion, so ecological farmers are learning to include zinc in their soil amendments.10. Take vitamin C in high doses and often (several times a day). Natural forms of vitamin C with bioflavanoids are more effective, as they are better absorbed by the cells. Most animals can make their own vitamin C, and they rev up production very high when fighting an infection, but humans have lost that ability, so we must get what our body needs through food and supplements. Doctors who understand this have effectively treated very serious infections with high dose IV vitamin C along with other nutrients. Excess vitamin C tends to cause loose stools, so back off if that happens.11. Herbs & spices - For more suggestions, and helpful herbs and spices, check out Dr. Mercola at http://tinyurl.com/MercolaFlu22

Friday, December 21, 2012

Now violence has intruded itself into our holiday season, and we are led to wonder what prompts such vicious behavior. All sorts of causes are cited, but some important ones are overlooked or ignored.

Barb Stitt, probation officer, in her book,Food & Behavior: a Natural Connection, relates how the behavior of probationers turned around when she improved their nutrition, emphasizing vitamin B complex. Too many nutritionally deficient, refined foods (junk food) leads to a 'jumpy' brain, prone to violent outbursts.

Dr. Stitt worked with aschool in Wisconsin to improve the school meals which resulted in a remarkable improvement in student behavior.

Several experts have highlighted the importance of adequate omega-3 essential fats forbrain health, as they are a major component of brain tissue, but many folks are short on omega-3s and long on omega-6 fat, which crowd out the omega-3's. Bizarre behavioral problems can result.

Anarticle by Kevin Drum in the latest issue of Mother Jones details the close correlation between leaded gasoline and crime some twenty years later when the children exposed to lead grow to be troubled young adults. He asserts that the fall in crime in recent years is related to the earlier outlawing of leaded gas, but he feels that investing in cleaning up the remaining environmental lead contamination would be a worthwhile investment.

And the new kid on the block, vitamin K2, very essential for brain health (& heart health, bone health, etc.). And where is it found? Pasture-raised eggs, butter, lard & meat, especially liver, the very foods our health authorities have been demonizing! SeeVitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox for the details. All you folks taking supplemental calcium and vitamin D need to read this!

And now I read of another neglected and easily corrected deficiency that can cause really strange behavior - Could It Be B12?- a serious, often hidden, and neglected deficiency!

There are more links on my website, www.MercyViewMeadow.org, about the nutrition behavior connection - find 'violence' on the site map and follow the link. Be aware that good nutrition and detoxification are far more important than medications, guns, more police, or more prisons to end these irrational behaviors.

Why is it that with all the talk of guns, gun control, prisons, and whatever to attack the problem of violence, there is so little recognition that some well planned, inexpensive supplements might calm the troubled mind? Why are we so reluctant to acknowledge that the highly processed junk foods that constitute the typical diet of too many Americans might be contributing to the problem? Could it be that profits and sales are more important than health and a tranquil society? After all, if we all started eating real food and got truly healthy, there are several industries that would suffer decline!

"Please take a moment with me to
direct your love to not just the young victims of the overwhelmingly
painful massacre at the school in Connecticut and their families, but to
all people who live in challenging, sad and painful circumstances in our
world. Anyone can turn into a gunman if s/he is feeling left out,
disconnected and lost. A gunman shames us all. Let's make sure that we
take care of all our sisters and brothers.

"Let's focus on a world that we do want to create and live in.
Let's ignore the media that will spread ever more fear with their
reporting."We need CHANGE.
We long for PEACE.
So let's think PEACE.
Let's dream PEACE.
Let's do PEACE.
Every day. Let's feed our minds and souls with possibility.

This very touching poem by by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA, exemplifies
the possibilities -Prayer for Newtown

Saturday, August 25, 2012

I don't understand why folks are so enamored of Paul Ryan! I appears to me that he stands for demolishing the safety nets that are a hallmark of a civilized society, while using the army as a substitute safety net (do we need more foreign adventures?), and coddling the rich, who take advantage of our public services (public education, infrastructure, safety personnel, etc.) while avoiding paying taxes in every way they can. Are they going to use their billions to repair our roads and bridges, or hire our public servants, such as teachers and policemen?

Yes, we have too many regulations, but do we need to shut down everything that protects us from the predatory nature of big for-profit corporations?

Does that mean we let industry continue to contribute to global warming, environmental disasters, and lousy food & health systems?

Why have we gotten to the point where some wealthy people appear to be trying to buy the election to protect their often ill-gotten gains?

Why are the airwaves filled with innuendo and out-right lies meant to instill fear in the heart of the gullible masses?

I'm sorry, but the Republicans have turned me off completely with their kowtowing to the right wingers (who seem to have their brains screwed on backwards), with their racist determination to undermine Obama since the day he was elected, and their refusal to compromise for the good of the country.